Film viewing device



Aug. 13, 1940. a. SERRURIER FILM VIEWING DEVICE Filed NOV. 10, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 13, 1940. I 1. SERRURIER 2,211,218

FILM VIEWING DEVICE Filed Nov. 10, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 13, 194% n. SERRURIER 1 FILM VIEWING DEVICE Filed Nov. 10, 1937 a Sheets-Shee t s Patented Aug. 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for viewing transparencies, particularly motion picture films,

and has special utility in the editing of motion picture films.

A broad objectof the invention is to provide a film viewing machine in which the operator may view the film directly through a magnifying lens, or may, at his option, view an enlarged projected image of the film on a screen.

A more specific object is to provide a combination direct viewing and projecting machine in which a changeover from one combination to the other can be quickly and easily accomplished, and in-which the projected image is erect with respect to the film, both horizontally and vertically.

Various other more specific objects and features of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows:

For editing films there is in extensive use a film viewing machine in which the, film is moved longitudinally past an aperture illuminated from the rear, the illuminated film being viewed directly by the operator. To produce a larger, clearer image it is customary to insert a simple magnifying lens in front of the film to increase the apparent size of the image seen. These machines have the great advantage, for editing purposes, that the film being viewed directly with the picture in an erect position, is conveniently positioned and supported for direct inspection and for the making thereon of identifying marks. Furthermore, the machines are very compact, requiring no screen; can be used in lighted rooms, and can run the film either forward or backward.

However, it is frequently desirable to view a. larger image of the scene than is provided by the magnifying lens of the machines of the type described and special projectors have been developed for this use. The ordinary projector, however, has numerous disadvantages, particularly when used in combination with a direct viewing machine. Thus the cutting room in which the direct viewing machines are employed is not darkened and since the ordinary projection on the screen must be carried on in a darkened room, it becomes necessary, when it is desired to project the film, to interrupt the work in the cutting room, take it from the direct viewing machine, and transfer it to the projector in a darkened projection room. Furthermore, it is very diiiicult to mark a film being run through a projector because the film is harder to get at and runs vertically downward withthe picture on thefilm upside down, whereas in the direct viewing machine the film moves upwardly with the pictures in erect position.

In accordance with the present invention, I combine most of the advantageous features of the direct viewing and projection type of ma- 5 chines while eliminating their important defects, by providing a single machine in which the film is run upwardly, with the pictures thereon in erect position, with provision made for either direct viewing of the film in the customary man- 10 ner by illuminating it from the rear and observing it through a magnifying glass, or by projecting on a screen an enlarged image of the film, the film remaining in the same position and its movement being unaffected by the changes nec- 16 essary to convert the machine from the direct (viewing condition to the image projecting con- The invention will now be explained by describing in detail, with reference to the drawings, 20 a specific embodiment thereof, it being understood that various departures irom the particular structure shown may be made without departing from the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete film viiewing machine in accordance with the invent on.

Fig. 2 is a detail vertical sectional view taken approximately in the plane 11-11 of Fig. 3a.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, taken approximately in the plane III-4H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3a is a longitudinal section taken in the same plane as Fig. 3, showing a portion of the apparatus in a different position of adjustment.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken approximately in the plane IV-IV of Fig. 3. I

Fig. 5 is a detail section taken approximately in the plane V-V of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a cross section taken in the plane 423) VI-VI of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is a view of a portion of the machine, looking in the direction of the arrow VII in Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is a detail view illustrating the construction of a mirror and. transparency employed in 45 the machine.

Fig. 9 is a front elevation view of the lamp housing or the machine in normal position with a portion of the front wallbroken away to show the switches.

Fig. 10 is an elevation view, similar to Fig. 9, but with the lamp housing in open position to show the different positions 01 the switches.

Fig. 11 is a section taken in the plane XI-XI of Fig. 3.

' and on the right side thereof, is a viewing screen A which may be a ground glass,

. part of the present light onto a Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram illustrating the optical system employed in the machine.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the film viewing machine there disclosed comprises a supporting frame I which may be mounted on casters 2 for easy movement, and the film viewing mechanism proper, which is supported on the frame. The viewing mechanism comprises an elongated housing 3 which is light-tight and relatively wide at the top but tapers to a narrower width at the lower end. At the upper end of the housing 3, translucent is adapted to be projected. To shield the screen 4 from extraneous light, to a limited extent, at least, the screen is partly enclosed in a hood 5- which extends across the top and down the sides of the screen. Also positioned on the upper end of the housing 3, but to one side of the screen 4, is the film feeding and direct viewing mechanism 6.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the apparatus 6 comprises a stationary aperture member 1 and a hinged aperture member 8 between which the film 9 to be viewed passes, the two members 1 and 8 having juxtaposed recesses therein provided with a path for the film. The film is moved through the slot, past a longitudinal aperture 10 in the lower block 1 intermittently by on which a picture any suitable film feeding mechanism. 'Since such feeding mechanism does not constitute a invention and would great- 1y complicate the drawings, it has not been shown.

The hinged aperture member 8 is hingedly attached at its side edge by a hinge pin 12 to the stationary aperture member 1, and is provided with an aperture 13 which is expanded or flared from bottom to top. The member 8 is normally retained in closed position, lyingagainst the stationary member 1 by latch l4. By snapping the latch M into open position and rotating the hinged aperture member 8 on the hinge pin l2, the aperture members 1 and 8 can be separated far enough to permit insertion of the film 8 into place. Thereafter, by swinging the hinged aperture member 8 into closed position, the film is locked in place and is ready to the machine.

Film 9, when viewed directly, is illuminated from the rear. To this end there is provided immediately below the stationary aperture member, and to one side of the aperture ill therein, a lamp 15 which, when illuminated, projects mirror It (Fig. 3a), and thence through an opal screen 11 into and through the aperture 10 onto the film 9. The film 9, being illuminated from the rear, is readily visible from the front side and may be viewed by the operator through a magnifier consisting of a pair of piano-convex lenses lt which are mounted in a lens barrel it. As shown in Fig. 2, this lens barrel is is hingedly attached, as by a hinge 20, to the hinged aperture member 8 so that the lens barrel is can be swung vertically about the hinge under certain conditions of operation to expose the film 9 and permit the operator to make identifying marks thereon.

The apparatus heretofore described corresponds, except for minor changes necessitated by the addition of the screen and projecting equipment, with the direct viewing machines heretofore employed.

Referring now to Fig. 3, when it is desired to project lucent viewing screen 6, the instead of beonto the film 9, thereby illuminating the image be run through a picture from the film 9 onto the transmg illuminated from the rear, is illuminated from the front. To-this end, the lamp I5 is ex-. tinguished, the. mirror 16 and the opal screen 11 are folded out of the way, and a lamp 2| mounted in a lamp housing 22 adapted to be, positioned immediately in front of the lenses I8, is energized.

Referring for the moment to Fig. .12, light from lamp 2| is concentrated by the lenses 18 (shown as an arrow in Fig. 12) on the film, The light emanting from the film 9 is focused by an objective lens 23 to produce a slightly enlarged inverted image in a plane 25 spaced a distance beyond the focal point 26 of the lens 23. The

One viewing the screen 4 will see a projected image similar to, in all respects,v except size, theimage viewed by looking at the film directly through the magnifying lenses 18 (Fig. 3427.).

Referring back to Fig. 3, the objective lens 23 and the concave mirror 21 are all positioned within and supported by the light-tight shadow box 3. When projecting motion pictures, it is desirable to employ a shutter for preventing transmission of light to the screen during the period of movement of the film. To this end a barrel type shutter 29 is disclosed in Fig. 3, it being understood that this shutter will be moved in syrichronism with the film moving mechanism in a manner well-known in the art. The details of this mechanism, therefore, need not be described as they do not constitute an essential part of the present invention. v It is desirable to provide for easy and accurate adjustment of the position of the mirror 21. By moving the, mirror toward or away from the lens 23, the size of the picture on the screen 7 6 may be varied between wide limits. The maker can thereby adjust the size of the picture to fit exactly the frame around the screen or may make the picture larger or smaller than the screen according to individual preference ofthe operator. Such movement of the mirror 21 along the axis of the lens 23 is made possible by the particular mounting of the mirror, next to be described. 7

Referring to Fig. 11, the mirror 21 is mounted in a rim 3d which is supported on a pair of diametrically opposite trunnions 3i attached to a ring 32 surrounding the rim 38. The ring 32 in turn is provided with a pair of trunnions 33 to be rotatably supported in plates 35, which f in any position of longitudinal adjustment by tightening screws 35 extending therethrough into nut members 31, which bear against the opposite face of the wall member 3, closely adjacent the edge of the openings 35. The openings 35 are closed by cover plates 38 to effect a light seal.

It is also desirable to provide accurate swing.- ing adjustment of the mirror 21 about the axis of the trunnions 3| and about the axis of the trunnions 33. To this end the rim it, to which the mirror 21 is rigidly attached, has extending therefrom on its right side an arm dd (Fig. 4)

which extends upwardly along the right-hand 75 image produced in the plane 25 is a real inverted wall of the shadow box to a point adjacent the upper end thereof where it is provided with a longitudinal slot 4| engaged by a pin 42 on a crank ll mounted on a shaft 44 which extends through the wall of the shadow box and is connected on the exterior of the box to an actuating lever 45 (Fig. 3) having a handle 46 on its upper end, which handle is within convenient reach of an operator seated at the machine. By' swinging the lever II the crank 43 may be oscillated in either direction to swing the upper end or the arm 40 through a relatively small angle and thereby rotate the rim II and the mirror 2? attached thereto, about the trunnions 3|.

To eifect movement of the mirror about the axis of the trunnions 33, the arm 40 is adapteda frame 49, which is rotatably supported on pivots in the upper and lower walls, respectively, of the shadow box. By rotating the frame it about the axis of the pivots 50, the pin 48 is moved against one side or the other of the slot 41 in the arm 40 to deflect the latter and oscillate the mirror 2! to obtain accurate and delicate rotary adjustment of the mirror 21.

The frame 49 is provided with an arm}? (Figs. 3 and 4) which has a longitudinally extending slot 53 in the outer end, in to which projects a pin 54 on a nut member 55. The nut member 55 is threaded onto a screw shaft 56 which is re tatably mounted in a bushing 51 in the wall of the shadow box and is provided exterior of the box with a crank handle 58 whereby it may be rotated. The bushing 51 not only supports the screw 56 for rotation but prevents any longitudinal motion of the screw in the bushing, so that in response to rotation of the crank 58 the nut member 55 is moved back and forth along the screw 56 to shift the pin 54, and through it the arm 52, thereby rotating the frame 49 about the axis'oi' the pivots 60 to shift the pin 48 in one direction or the other to thereby bend the arm 40 and deflect the mirror 21 about the trunnions 33. To prevent rotation of the nut member 55, the latter is provided with an arm 59, the end of which rides between a flange 60 and the arm 52 on the frame 48.

It is;,quite important to have the handle Mi for effecting vertical movement of the image on the screen 5 within easy reach of the operator, because it is frequently necessary to frame the image following the insertion in the machine of each new film.

In this connection it is to be understood that it is the standard practice in direct viewing ma= chines, to make the hinged aperture member (member 8 in Fig. 3) movable through a limited distance in the direction of movement of the film to permit proper framing of the image irrespec tive of the particular position of the film when it is inserted. Thus referring to Fig. 2, the aper ture H3 in the hinged aperture member 8 is the same size at its inner end as the picture on the film 9, whereas the aperture ill in the member I is substantially larger in the direction of travel of the film than the length of a single picture thereof. Furthermore, the aperture member d is slidably mounted ior movement in the direction of movement of the film, and may be shifted along the film to secure proper framing of the image by means of a lever 62 (Fig. 7). As shown to best advantage in Fig. 6, the aperture member 8 is slidably mounted on a base member 8a and maintained in frictional engagement with the base to by screws 8?) (Fig. 6), which screws pass through slots 8c in the base 8a, into the aperture member 8. The member 8 remains in whatever position of adjustment it may be moved to. Obviously when the aperture member 8 is shifted; the entire lamp housing 22 is shifted with it and it then becomes necessary to rotate the mirror 21 about its horizontal axis by means of lever 46 to properly frame the image on the screen 4.

Of course, when the machine is being employed for direct viewing of a film through the magnifying lens la, the lamp housing 22 is swung out of of the picture on the screen 4, I provide an automatic switch control for the lamps l5 and 2t, and an automatic shifting mechanism for the mirror 95 and screen El.

The switching mechanism is illustrated particularly in Figs. sand 10, Fig. 9 showing the positions of the switches when the lamp housing 22 is in closed position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and Fig. 10 showing the positions of the switches when the housing 22 is in the open position shown in Figs. 3a and "i. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, two switches are employed, one for the lamp i5 and the other for the lamp N. The switches are both of the mercury type in which a pair of electrodes are sealed into one end of a closed glass tube containing a small quantity of mercury. The

switch is opened by moving the tube so that the mercury falls away from the contacts and is closed by shifting the tube so that the mercury flows about and short circuits the contacts. The switches are mounted within the lamp housing 22 in a recess provided therefor, which recess extends below the main chamber of the housing and is segregated therefrom. As shown in Fig. 9, the switch 53, containing a pair of electrodes 6% connected in series with the lamp in, is so positioned that when the housing '22 is in normal position, the mercury 65 in the tube is in the end of the tube remote from the electrode t4, so that the lamp i5 is extinguished. On the other hand, the switch 66, containing a pair oi electrodes 67 connected in series with the lamp 2|, is so positioned that the mercury 68 therein short circuits the contacts 6i, thereby completing a circuit for energizing the lamp 2i.

Referring now to Fig. 10, it will be observed, however, that when the lamp housing 22 is swung into the open position shown in Figs. 3a and '7, the tubes 63 and lit are shifted so that the mercury in tube G3 short circuits the contacts to energize the lamp l5, whereas the mercury in the tube 6b falls away from the electrodes, thereby opening the latter and extinguishing the lamp 2i. The mechanism for automatically shifting the mirror it and the opal screen ii is illustrated particularly in Figs. 3a, 5 and 8; thus the screen it is rigidly secured to the shaft it, which is rotatably mounted below and to one side of the aperture i, and has secured thereto a pinion ll meshing with a rack l2 secured to a plunger 53, which extends upwardly a suihcient distance to be contacted by the lamp housing 2 2 when the supports the latter ror it is not rigidly attached to the shaft it as is the screen ll, but is hingedly mounted thereon and is adapted to be engaged by a finger is projecting from the hinge end of the screen i'i.

When the screen ilis in the position directly across the aperture l9, as'shown in Fig. 3a, the finger 78 is in engagement with the mirror is and at an angle of to the screen ii to reflect light from the lamp it through the screen H and the aperture ill.

When the lamp housing 22 is moved into the closed position shown in Fig. l for causing the picture to be projected onto the screen 6, the

housing bears against the outer end of the plunger rod 13 and forces the latter downwardly a sufficient distance to rotate the pinion ii and the shaft It through 90 to carry the screen ii and the mirror It into position clear of the aperture Hi, all as clearly shown in Fig. 3. During this operation, limited by contact with the frame.

The construction of the apparatus having been described in considerable detail, the operationof the device will now be followed through.

Assume that it is desired 'to project the pictureof a film onto the screen 3. The film is first inserted in the machine by releasing the catch Hi (Figs. 1 and 3) and swinging the hinged aperture member 8 and the lamp housing about the hinge l2 to permit insertion of the film in the channel provided therefor between the members l and 8. The member t and the lamp housing are then swung into closed position, in which position they are retained by the snap latch i l. The film driving mechanism may then be energized, and since the lamp M is automatically energized when the lamp housing is the film is projected by the lens 23 and the mir-- in the closed position, light is projected from lamp 2| through the magnifying lenses it, which now function as condenserlenses, onto. the film 9 illuminating the latter so that an image of ror 21 onto the screen ii. The operator then observes the screen 4 to see if the image is properly framed with respect to the aperture It. If it is not, he shifts the aperture member 8 by means of the lever 62 until the picture is properly framed with respect to the aperture. ,The operator next observes the screen 6 to ascertain if the image is properlyframed on screen 4, and if it is not, he efiects proper framing by shifting the handle 46 to rotate the mirror 21 about its horizontal axis.

If, at any time, while observing the picture on the screen 4, the operator wishes to make identifying marks on the film, he can readily do so by swinging the lamp housing 22 to the left about the hinge-pin 22a, as shown in Fig. 3a, and then rotating the frame I9 carrying the magnifying lenses l8 about the hinge 20 (Fig. 2) to open the upper end of the aperture 13. The operator can then insert a pencil through the aperture l3 and make any desired inscriptions on the film.v Qt course, in response to movement movement of the mirror it is I of the lamp housing 22 into open position, the mirror is and screen ll are automatically thrown into operative position,as shown in Fig. 8a, and the lamp 2! is extinguished and the lamp iii illuminated so that the film 9 is properly illu= minated from the underside while the film is being marked. By merely snapping down the frame it and swinging the lamp housing 22 back. into closed position, the picture is again porjecte'd:

on the screen d.

If it is desired to view the film direct, the operator merely swings the lamp housing 22 into open position, as shown in Fig. 3a, whereupon the lamp I5 is lighted, the lamp 2i extinguished, and the mirror it and the screen i'i brought into position, all as previously described.

It is found that when the lenses it are properly, positioned for desirable magnifying efiects (for viewing a film direct), they are also properly positioned for best results as a condensing lens when projecting light from the lamp 2i through the film. It is desirable to provide a concave mirror Bil in the upper end of the lamp housing 22 to increase the illumination of the film with a lamp of the given size.

Changeover from direct viewing to projection on the screen Ll may be made at any time,

varied within wide limits to satisfy particular conditions without departing from the invention, the scope of which is set forth in the appended claims.

' I claim:

1. A device of the type described, comprising means for supporting a transparency, a source of light .positioned rearwardly and laterally with respect to said transparency, a mirror for refleeting light from said source onto said transparency, means for hingedly supporting said mirror for swinging movement from a position directly back of said transparency, in which it reflects light from said source onto said transparency, into aposition laterally spaced from said transparency, means for illuminating said 2. A device of-the type described, comprising a frame member including means for supporting and framing a transparency, a converging lens in front of said transparency, means mounting said converging lens for swinging movement in one plane into and-out of position in front of said transparency, means for illuminating said transparency from the rear, whereby it can be viewed directly from the front, a screen, means particular construction described, which may be positioned back of said transparency for projecting an image thereof onto said screen, a lamp house containing a lamp, and means mounting said lamp house for swinging movement in a second plane normal to said first plane from a position alined in. front of said transparency to a position lateral-thereof clear of the path of said swinging lens.

3. A device of the type described, comprising and switch means actuated in response to moveit illuminates the latter,

ment of said lamp housing for energizing the lamp therein and deenergizing the lamp back of the transparency in response to movement of said housing in front of said transparency, and energizing said lamp back of said transparency in response to movement of said housing from its position in front of said transparency.

4. A device as described in claim 3, in which said switch means is gravity actuated in response to change of positions of said lamp housing.

5. A film-editing device comprising means for supporting a transparency to be viewed, means for illuminating said transparency from the rear, whereby it can be viewed directly from the front; a lamp housing containing a lamp, and means hingedly supporting said lamp housing for swinging movement about an axis parallel to the plane of said transparency from a position directly in front of said transparency, in which into a position laterally displaced from said transparency, leaving the front of the transparency unobstructed; a screen; means positioned back of said transparency for projecting an image thereof onto said screen; and means for moving said rear illuminating means into and out of operative relation back of said transparency in response to movement of said lamp housing, comprising spring means for normally maintaining said illuminating means in operative position, and plunger means actuated by movement of said lamp housing into position directly in front of said transparency for shifting said illuminating means out of operative relation.

6. A device of the type described, comprising means for supporting a motion picture film, means for illuminating said film, a translucent screen positioned adjacent said film, means back of said film for projecting an image of said filmon said screen, comprising a mirror positioned a substantial distance behind said screen and mounted for independent rotary movement about two axes at right angles to each other, an

elongated member segured to said mirror and extending forwardly therefrom, means guiding the forward end of said member for movement in one plane only to deflect said mirror about one of said axes, means for moving said member in said guide means, and means intermediate the ends of said member for bending it transversely to said plane of guided movement for deflecting said mirror about the other of said axes.

7. A device of the type described, comprising a frame, means on said frame for supporting a transparency, back illuminating means back of the plane of the transparency, means for selectively rendering said back illuminating means operative to illuminate said transparency from the rear, whereby it can be viewed directly from the front, means in front of the plane of the transparency for illuminating said transparency from the front, a screen mounted on said frame, means also supported on said frame and positioned back of said transparency for projecting an image thereof on said screen, means movably mounting said front illuminating means on said frame for movement into and out of operative relation with said transparency, a converging lens positioned in front of said transparency for magnifying the transparency when the latter is viewed from the front through said lens, and for concentrating light from said front illuminating means onto said transparency when an image of the latter is-projected onto said screen, and means on said frame for supporting said converging lens independently of said means for movably supporting said front illuminating means.

8. A film-editing device of the type described comprising a frame, 'means on said frame for supporting a transparency, illuminating means for illuminating said transparency from the front, a translucent screen and means supporting it on said frame in position adjacent to and approximately parallel with said transparency, an optical system for projecting an image of said transparency on said screen comprising a first means for focusing a completely inverted image of said transparency in a plane back of said transparency, and a second means for focusing a completely inverted image of said last-mentioned image onto said screen, whereby the image on said screen is erect both laterally and vertically with respect to the transparency, and means movably supporting said illuminating means on said frame for movement from position directly in front of said transparency to a position laterally disposed with respect thereto and in which said transparency is unobstructed in front, for permitting direct inspection of said transparency from the front.

9. A device of the type described, comprising a frame and means thereon for supporting a transparency, first illuminating means, and means supporting it on said frame for movement from an operative position directly in front of said transparency into an inoperative position laterally displaced from said transparency, a screen supported on said frame, means supported on said frame and positioned back of said trans parency for projecting an image of said transparency onto said screen, second illuminating means for illuminating said transparency from the rear and means mounting it on said frame for movement from an operative position between said transparency and said projecting means, in which it directs light on said transparency, into an inoperative position clear of the path between said transparency and said projecting means, and means responsive to movement of said first illuminating means into and out of its said operative position for simultaneously moving said second illuminating means out. of and into its operative position.

10. A motion picture film editing'machine, comprising a portable frame adapted to be supported upon a floor, a film-moving mechanism mounted on said frame, said mechanism includ-= 'iiD ing a film head for framing the film for direct operator seated-in front of the machine, means including a lamp positioned back oi the plane of the film for selectively illuminating it from the rear, means for selectively illuminating said film from the front, including a lamp housing containing a lamp, said housing being movably mounted on said frame for movement from a position directly in front of said film into position laterally displaced therefrom, a translucent screen on said frame positioned substantially at the same height as and parallel to the him in said head but laterally disposed therefrom, focusing and reflecting means behindand below said film. head and screen for projecting a laterally and vertically erect image of said film on said screen when the film is illuminated by said front illuminating means, and means for selectively energizing said rear and front illuminating means.

11. A device of the type described, comprising means for supporting a transparency, means for illuminating said transparency from the rear, whereby it can be viewed directly from the front,

means for illuminating said transparency from the front, a screen, means positioned back 01 said transparency for projecting an image thereof on said screen, separate means for moving said two illuminating means into and out of operative relation in heel; of and in front of said transparency, transparency when the latter is viewed directly from the front, means for supporting said lens in position between said transparency and said front illuminating means when the latter is in operative position, whereby it concentrates light from said front illuminating means onto said transparency when an image of the latter is projected onto said screen, said lens-supporting means being independent of the means for supporting said front illuminating means, whereby said front illuminating means is movable into and out of operative relation without consequent movement of said lens into and out of operative relation to saidtransparency.

IWAN SERRIURIER.

a converging lens for magnifying the 

